References
A review of radiographic interpretation of the navicular bone
Abstract
Navicular syndrome (also called navicular disease) plays a major role in the equine industry as a chronic, degenerative and often career-limiting disease process which affects a variety of breeds of horses. In addition to clinical signs and diagnostic analgesia, diagnostic imaging plays a key role in identification of this disease process – radiography is the most used imaging modality. In addition to their clinical utility, foot radiographs are a standard element of most pre-purchase examinations. Good radiographic quality and positioning are necessary for accurate interpretation. Radiographic lesions of the navicular bone such as sclerosis, enlarged synovial invaginations, distal border fragments and flexor cortical erosions are important to identify and understand because of their potential role in the disease process. This article reviews an approach to radiological evaluation and interpretation of lesions affecting the navicular bone.
Navicular syndrome (or navicular disease) is a degenerative syndrome involving the osseous and soft tissue structures of the podotrochlear apparatus (Wright et al, 1998). The degeneration of the podotrochlear apparatus is thought to be because of biomechanical overloading from a combination of workload and conformation (Wright and Douglas, 1993). Pain originating from this region is estimated to be responsible for at least one-third of chronic forelimb lameness in Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods (Stashak, 1998; Dyson et al, 2011). Because radiography is commonly the first imaging modality performed following lameness evaluation, accurate radiographic interpretation requires well-positioned radiographs with a thorough understanding of normal variants, artefacts and the spectrum of radiological lesions that can affect the appearance of the navicular bone. This article will review methodology for the evaluation and interpretation of the most frequently encountered radiographic lesions of the navicular bone based on a review of the literature and the authors' experiences. Note that although navicular lesions occur in both the fore and hind limbs, the forelimb terminology will be used for ease of discussion.
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